Texas Rangers Blog

Gosselin: While eyes are focused elsewhere, Matt Harrison could be key to Ranger rotation

SURPRISE, Ariz. — The eyes of the baseball world were on Matt Harrison last October when he took the mound for Game 7 of the World Series.

Five months later, the eyes of Texas are barely on Harrison, much less the eyes of America.

Walking through D/FW Airport the other day, I passed a rack of Yu Darvish T-shirts in a gift shop. The eyes of Texas are certainly on the Japanese import as he attempts to transfer his pitching excellence across the Pacific Ocean in 2012.

The eyes of Texas also are riveted on Derek Holland, the darling of last October and the emerging staff ace with the departure of C.J. Wilson in free agency. The eyes of Texas are also on Neftali Feliz, an All-Star closer who is attempting to become a starter in 2012.

The eyes of Texas are even on Colby Lewis, the expected opening day starter for the two-time defending American League champions. He’s the veteran presence in a young rotation who’s expected to be the steadying influence this summer.

And Harrison? He’s the one starter in the rotation without a story line this spring.

“That’s OK by me,” Harrison said. “The more I stay out of the media, the better it is. I just worry about doing my job, getting outs and giving the team a chance to win. That’s all I care about.”